Exterior Timber Cladding

Timber or wood cladding, also known as weatherboarding or siding, refers to the installation of timber boarding or planks on the wall of a building.  Cladding a wall with wood provides both a decorative and protective finish. Timber cladding profiles include shiplap, tongue and groove and feather edge.

Aesthetic Appeal: Wood cladding adds a natural and warm appearance to a building, creating a visually pleasing effect. It comes in a variety of wood species, colors, and finishes, allowing for diverse design possibilities.

Weather Resistance: Many timber species used for cladding have natural properties that make them resistant to decay.

Insulation: Timber has inherent insulating properties, helping to regulate temperature and contribute to energy efficiency.

Sustainability: Wood is a renewable resource, and when sourced responsibly, wood wall cladding can be an environmentally friendly option.

Versatility: Timber cladding can be used in a variety of architectural styles, from traditional to modern. It can be applied to the entire exterior or used selectively to highlight specific areas of a building.

Maintenance: If installed without a coating, timber boards do not require any maintenance aside from occasional cleaning in some areas.

Overall, wood cladding is a versatile and attractive choice for exterior building finishes, providing a blend of functionality and aesthetics.

Providing suitable timbers are used and the boards are installed correctly, you should expect your cladding boards to last for 30 to 60 years, depending on species selected.

We don’t do installations, but you’ll find various fitting guides for different cladding types in our Resource Centre.

Yes, we do offer delivery services. To find out more details, please see our delivery page.

Timber cladding boards are commonly fixed to timber battens using stainless steel ringshank nails secured through the face of the board. In some cases the nails can be hidden by securing through the edge of the board. Please ask for advice before starting.

There is no best type of timber cladding but there will be a type that is best suited to your budget and design. Larch, cedar and thermally modified woods are the most popular choices. Call us for a chat and we will help you find the best type for you.

Timber cladding boards are normally supplied in random lengths, meaning you will receive a range of lengths. The lengths will vary depending on wood specie, but generally they range between 1.5mt and 3.6mt.

Providing timber is sourced from well managed and properly regulated woodlands it can be considered ‘sustainable’. Buying locally grown timber helps to ‘sustain’ British woodlands.

Wood cladding costs anywhere between £25 and £90 per M2 + VAT depending on wood specie and profile. Check out our online price list for current prices.

Calculating how much cladding you need is a matter of working out how many square metres are to be covered. Add 10% to this figure for waste and then let us work out how many linear metres you need and what it will cost.

There are three golden rules when fixing feather edge cladding.

Overlap: Do not skimp on the overlap. Allow 40 – 50mm of overlap to avoid gaps forming when the boards shrink in the summer.

Fixings: Use stainless steel ringshank nails and locate the fixings so that each board is only fixed once per batten.

Season: If the boards are cut from wet wood, avoid the warm summer months to prevent distortion and cupping.

Follow these basic rules to create a long lasting and beautiful feather edge cladding installation.

Uncoated wood cladding requires very little ongoing maintenance, aside from a clean if it starts to look dirty. Coatings will require reapplication every few years. The frequency will depend on the level of exposure to the elements.

Using wooden cladding boards or slats is an easy way to create an internal feature wall. We have a wide range of wood species, surface finishes and profiles to chose from. To avoid warping you should use kiln dried wood rather than air dried or wet wood.